SIU investigation into Police errors over granting of bail to suspects

SIU investigation into Police errors over granting of bail to
suspects

[May 09 2019]

The Cinnamon Grand hotel suicide bomber, Mohamed
Ibrahim Inshaf Ahamad was the owner of the brass factory at Wellampitiya.
On 22nd April, nine employees of that factory were taken into custody
and were produced at the Colombo No 2 Magistrate Court where they were
ordered to be remanded till 06 May. When the case was called on the 06th
May, the suspects were granted bail. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU)
at the Police Headquarters has commenced a probe to ascertain as to
whether any faults or negligence on the part of the Wellampitiya Police
had led to the granting of bail to these suspects. Stern action will be
taken against the officer responsible if the outcomes of the SIU
investigations find mistakes have been made by the Wellampitiya Police
in this regard.

Meanwhile, a person who tried to bribe the Officer in
Charge of the Horowpathana Police to get a suspect, who was arrested in
connection with the bombing incident, released was arrested by Bribery
Commission Officers, on Wednesday (08). The man, who is a relative of
the suspect in custody was arrested after the OIC had informed higher
authorities of the incident.

Police investigations into the complaints made
regarding the incidents at Kochchikade, Negombo has mostly been
completed. On the request of both sides involved in the incident,
religious leaders in the area have made requests from the Police that
they would like to come to an amicable settlement regarding the
complaints made on the incident. The people there feel the need to live
peacefully and in religious and ethnic harmony as they had done before.
The Police will provide its complete assistance in this regard, said so
the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara at the press briefing held at
the Media Centre in Kollupitiya on Wednesday (08).

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Pelwatte
Sugar factory was taken into custody along with his driver and another
employee after Police found five Walki-talkies, several uniforms similar
to those worn by MSD personnel, seven gloves worn by Traffic Police and
three hand held traffic lights hidden by him. The search was conducted
by the Police and STF after the employees of the sugar factory had
staged a protest against the COO. The suspects are being questioned by
the Police in Buttala.

Military spokesman and Director of the Media Centre,
Brigadier Sumith Atapattu chaired the press briefing.